Audio-gd Vacuum HE1 XLR Tube Preamplifier Review - HomeTheaterHifi.com......I own this preamp........$4,500.....Best 10 tube preamp under 10K....Simply make SS amps come Alive with the essence of real, live music.....Nothing even close...Just not a household name.
Warm, yet detailed tube preamp
Looking for a warm but yet detailed preamp to upgrade my Rouge RP1 (with NOS tubes). Rest of system is Coincident Frankenstein 300B Mk2, Zu Audio Omen Def Supreme, digital front end with PS Audio AirStream and DirectStream Sr (modified with external power supply for the analog side and different output transformers). The Rouge is a very good preamp (especially for the money), but it does definitely hold the system back at this point. I would like to add a bit more warmth of the overall sound and also add depth to the soundstage (without losing details). And I do want a remote... if nothing else, volume and mute.
Willing to spend about $5k used (or so).
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- 77 posts total
@corelli, I should have mentioned in my previous post that I have (2) subwoofers in my LTA MICROZOTL MZ3 PREAMPLFIER as it has left and right preouts and I can custom tailor the bass. But I have to agree with you, an LTA preamp sounds nothing like a warm sounding Luxman for example. I appreciate your clarity. |
Ok, so I guess I need to add some details. Warmth to me is more "meat on the bones" in the midrange. It’s not the low-end. The Rogue (and I apologize for the initial misspelling) is a great preamp, especially for the price, but it’s a bit lean in the midrange (and yes, I have tried different NOS tubes and although better, not all the way to where I want it to be). The other area where it falls a bit short is soundstage depth. The width is ok, but it’s lacking depths. This is not the speakers or the room. With the Gryphon Diablo 300 (way overkill with the ZU’s) I had that, so it’s definitely possible.
As to the nonsense about power condition limiting the current etc. 8W 300B monoblocks doesn’t draw that much current to start with and if the power conditioner (PS Audio PP12) doesn’t limit the Gryphon, I really don’t think it’ll limit the Coindicent Frankensteins...
The Zu Omen Def Supreme can indeed sound harsh unless you set them up correct. It does take lots of tweaking to get them just right. And I’ve done that. With other amps, I can get them to sound almost sweet, just not as seductive as with the SET amps. Trying other preamps, I can change the sound, but again, I haven’t found "THE ONE" yet (hence the post here). |
LTA has the most neutral sound of any tube based products I have heard. I like it but warm it isnt. A Rogue Audio RP 5 is definitely warm and polished, a Rogue Audio RP 7 was actually too warm in my system. Cary Audio SLP 98 is the ticket between warm, dynamic and detailed and responds well to tube upgrades, e.g. Sylvania GTA. |
- 77 posts total